Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Congratulations to my Aussie blogger friend, Michelle Dennis Evans, who released her e-book in October! Visit her blog HERE and her website HERE. Her e-book, a contemporary young adult novel, is called SPIRALLING OUT OF CONTROL and is only 99 cents and can be downloaded HERE.

What’s Spiralling Out of Control about? Temptation, depression, seduction, betrayal ... Not what 15-year-old Stephanie was expecting. Uprooted from her happy, all-girl high school life with a dream-filled future and thrown into an unfriendly co-ed school, Stephanie spirals into depression. When a charismatic high school senior, Jason, notices her, Stephanie jumps in feet first and willingly puts all her faith and trust in him, a boy she barely knows. Every choice she makes and turn she takes leads her towards a dangerous path. Her best friend is never far away and ready to catch her … but will she push Tabbie too far away when she needs her most?

INTERVIEW WITH MICHELLEWhat's your earliest memory related to writing, and who inspired you to write?
When I was around 7 years of age I wrote some dialogue when I was practising my spelling words and I remember loving creating those sentences. When I was 8 or 9 I read James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl and I was captivated—from that moment, I wanted to be an author.

Which scenes are hardest for you to write?
The opening scenes—I suck at beginnings.

What was the inspiration for this book?
I read a book of true stories about girls who ended up in halfway homes or jail—many of them from seemingly okay families. It made me wonder what might cause the worst to happen.

Would you like to be one of your characters (in this book or another one)?
Stephanie's best friend Tabbie is lovely ... I dream of being as nice as her.

What's your favorite thing about the book—character, scene, setting, plot, etc.?
My favourite thing is the tiny thread of hope that weaves its way through when everything seems hopeless.

How has your indie/self-publishing journey been so far?
It's such a roller-coaster. I had no intention of going indie when I began to write and I still submit work and hope to work with a large publishing house one day. I love the relatively new term of 'Hybrid Author' that is my ultimate goal.

What to you is the hardest part about writing?
As an indie author without a whole tribe of professionals editing my work, the hardest part is knowing when it's ready.

Who is your favorite author, and/or what are your favorite books?
God... the Bible. (giggle—but truth) I find it hard to isolate authors or books into favouritism because there are so many that I love—just check out my Goodreads bookshelf.

What things do you like to do, besides writing?
Reading... coffee with friends ... hanging out with my husband and family.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
Ah haaaa, to make people buy more books with a simple smile :D !

Favorite writing munchies? Cheese, red wine ... through the day, tea.

Do you have another writing project in the works right now?
Oh gosh yes! I'm nearly through the edits on the 2nd novel in the Spiralling Trilogy, I've started revising the 3rd novel in the Spiralling Trilogy and I just drafted the 4th novel in the Spiralling trilogy ... which would effectively make it no longer a trilogy but I already called it a trilogy so we're sticking with it LOL—plus I still have another drafted novel called that needs to be revised and I have written a verse novel that I absolutely love. If only I had more time!

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Thank you, Michelle! It's great to feature you here on my blog. (Yes, I left in all her Aussie spelling and punctuation: single quote marks, favourite, practising, Spiralling).

NOTE!I'm taking a slight blog vacation in that I won't be posting the third week of December. Happy holidays, everyone!

YOUR TURN
Do you know Michelle and follow her blog?
If you had a superpower, what would it be? (I think flying would be cool.)
What are your favorite writing munchies?